Mitchell

Robinson

No surprise here as Robinson was initially listed as probable for Game 2. The 28-year-old center had surgery on his broken pinky finger before the NBA Finals. Robinson will likely play between 10-20 minutes as the backup center.

Robinson is back on the injury report for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but it’s safe to assume that he will play. The longest-tenured Knick logged 13 minutes in the series opener, grabbing six rebounds. Look for Robinson to take on a similar role as New York attempts to take a 2-0 series lead.

Robinson’s return comes after undergoing surgery on his broken pinky finger. He will not have missed any games, despite the injury, and will likely come off the bench to continue playing a key role for a Knicks team that has won 11 straight games. They’ll enter with a significant rest advantage against the Spurs, who are coming off a seven-game series against the Thunder.

Robinson was listed as questionable on Tuesday, so his upgraded status certainly bodes well for his availability. Robinson will be leaned on to slow down Victor Wembanyama with his elite defensive acumen.

Previous reports indicated that Robinson should be available, and he was able to do some individual work on Sunday. However, his official designation for the first game of the Finals is questionable. Don’t expect Mike Brown to dip deep down the depth chart for center minutes if Robinson is out. Karl-Anthony Towns will likely play a massive workload, with Ariel Hukporti giving him a few minutes to breathe when Victor Wembanyama isn’t on the floor.

Robinson suffered a fractured right pinky finger at some point in the days following the Knicks’ Eastern Conference Finals sweep of Cleveland. Still, the center expects to be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The 7-footer was limited to individual work in Sunday’s practice and had something on the injured finger, although Knicks head coach Mike Brown did not reveal what the protection was. The NBA Finals don’t begin until Wednesday, so there is time for Robinson to get in some 5-on-5 action in practice.

Robinson will be available to face either the Spurs or Thunder, and he’ll play with a brace on his hand. New York relies on Robinson for his rebounding and elite defense, so this is certainly a welcomed update for Knicks fans.

After Robinson played a combined 48 games over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, he appeared in 60 games for the Knicks this year. The 28-year-old center is a key reserve, averaging 19.6 minutes and controlling the boards with 8.8 rebounds. Whether the Knicks can win the Finals, which start next week, without him is a question the organization hopes remains hypothetical. In the case that Robinson is out, New York would probably elect to backfill some of those minutes with Ariel Hukporti.

For the second consecutive game, Towns got himself into early foul trouble, picking up three in the first quarter. However, the Knicks were able not only to hold serve with their starting center benched, but also to grab control of Game 3 during the second period. Mitchell Robinson (six points, six rebounds, one steal and one block) played 19 minutes off the bench, and Towns was still effective as a rebounder and playmaker when on the floor. It may not matter much for this series, but the Knicks will need Towns to avoid early foul trouble as the games grow more important.

Robinson is back after missing Wednesday’s Game 2 victory due to illness. With OG Anunoby (hamstring) out, it’s possible that he starts as part of a bigger lineup, but only if Philadelphia has Joel Embiid. Robinson’s return, whether he starts or comes off the bench, likely bounces Ariel Hukporti from the rotation entirely.